In his theory of evolution, Charles Darwin suggested that showy traits such as peacock feathers, which do not improve survival, must instead give a reproductive advantage for them to persist through natural selection.

查尔斯·达尔文在他的进化论中曾提出，像孔雀羽毛这类对生存无益的浮华特质，必然会带来生殖优势，从而助其在自然选择中胜出。

But a new study suggests similar ostentatious displays in humans may actually be detrimental¹ to finding lasting² love.

但是，一项新研究指出，人类所表现出的相似特质事实上可能并不利于寻找长期对象。

US researchers have found that driving a flashy car, is a turn-off for both men and women who are looking for a life partner.

美国研究人员发现，寻找终身伴侣的男女会对开豪车的人避而远之。

Despite the hefty price-tag and pleasing aesthetics³, both sexes when seeking a long-term relationship are unimpressed by extravagant⁴ vehicles, viewing their drivers as less reliable and more sexually promiscuous⁵, according to the research.

研究称，尽管豪车价格高昂、外观漂亮，但是寻找长期伴侣的男女却不会为之所动，反而会认为豪车主人较不可靠而且更放荡。

In fact, the study suggest that people who are seeking marriage should ditch the sports car and instead choose something sensible.

事实上，研究表明，想结婚的人应该舍弃跑车，选择一些“靠谱”的车。

It follows recent research which found that women believed Porsche Boxster owners were less likely to want a committed relationship than Honda Civic⁶ drivers.

前不久有研究发现，女性认为开保时捷Boxster的人对稳定感情关系的需求要低于开本田思域的人。

"This contrasts with the notion that men's conspicuous⁷ resource displays are attractive to women because they reliably signal expected future resource investment in partners and especially in offspring," said study author Dr Jessica Kruger, of the University of Buffalo⁸.

该研究的作者、布法罗大学的杰西卡·克鲁格博士说：“过去认为，男性高调地展示自己的资源能够吸引女性，因为他们明确地表达出未来将对伴侣尤其是对后代的资源投资，而这一研究结果与之大相径庭。”

Compared to women, men have a greater tendency to conspicuously⁹ display their wealth. But a woman's preference for such displays reflects the type of partnership¹⁰ she is seeking.

和女性相比，男性更愿意高调炫富。但是女性对炫富男的偏爱也反映出她所追求的是哪一种感情关系。

For example physical qualities are more important when she has a brief fling in mind, while a man's wealth is more influential¹¹ when she is deciding on a suitable life partner who can provide for her children.

举例而言，当女性想要一段露水情缘时，她会更看重男性的外表，而当女性决定找一个能供养孩子的合适的终身伴侣时，她会更看重男性的财富。

In the new research, the psychologists aimed to find out how men's display of wealth is interpreted by others. Researchers at the universities of Buffalo and Michigan in the US asked 233 people of both sexes to state their preferences in two different scenarios¹³.

在这项新研究中，心理学家们想知道人们是如何解读男性炫富的。美国布法罗大学和密歇根大学的研究人员访问了233名男女，请他们针对两个不同场景表达自己的偏好。

They first read through the description of two men who were buying cars for around 20,000 pounds and then rated them on perceived parenting skills, dating, interest in relationships and attractiveness.

受访者先阅读了关于花2万英镑（约合17万元人民币）买车的两名男子的描述，然后从育儿技能、约会、恋爱兴趣和魅力值几方面给他们打分。

In the first scenario¹² 'Frugal¹⁴ Dan' bought a new car based on efficiency and reliability¹⁵, which comes under warranty¹⁶ for the first few years. In contrast 'Flashy Dave' bought a used car and spent money on new paint, bigger wheels and more powerful sound system.

在第一个场景中，“节俭的丹”从效能和可靠性出发买了一辆可保修几年的新车。相比之下，“招摇的戴维”买了一辆二手车，花钱喷了新漆、换了更大的车胎和更强大的音响系统。

The results showed that on a scale of how attractive the men were for a long term relationship, Flashy Dave was only rated as 43 points out of 80, while Frugal Dan received 67 points.

结果显示，就他们在长期感情关系方面的吸引力而言，招摇的戴维只得到了43分的评价，而节俭的丹得到了67分（满分80分）。

The researchers concluded that when a man throws money around on fancy cars, people intuitively interpret it to mean he is more interested in a short-term dalliance than a romantic commitment.

研究人员得出结论说，当一名男子砸钱买豪车时，人们会本能地将其解读为车主更喜欢一时的风流而不是一世的承诺。

"Participants demonstrated an intuitive understanding that men investing in the display of goods featuring exaggerated sensory¹⁷ properties have reproductive strategies with higher mating effort and greater interest in short-term sexual relationships, as well as lower paternal¹⁸ investment and interest in long-term committed romantic relationships than men investing in practical considerations," said Dr Daniel Kruger, of the University of Michigan.

密歇根大学的丹尼尔·克鲁格博士说：“参与者本能地理解为，为外观浮夸的物品投资的男性的繁殖策略是对交配投入更多，对短期性关系更有兴趣，相比买实用车的男性，对后代投资更少，对长期稳定的感情关系更没兴趣。”

The authors, who are married came up with the idea for the study while driving in their car.

研究报告的作者是一对夫妇，他们是在开车途中想到这个研究主题的。

"We lived in a historic district in an inner-city area, and there was a store nearby that sold enormous car wheels and had them hanging in the window," he added. "That was our inspiration for this study."

丹尼尔说：“我们住在内城的一个古城区，附近有一家商店出售巨大的车轮，这些车轮就挂在橱窗上。那就是这项研究的灵感来源。”